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North Liberty firefighters were first called to the home of Fred Steven, 115 Holiday Lodge Rd., around 1:45 p.m. Monday. Fire officials said when they arrived on scene they found “heavy fire and smoke” coming from the front of Steven’s home. The 71-year-old narrowly escaped the fire with the help of McBride a short time before crews arrived.

“It was worse than being in hell,” Steven said. “[Fire] spread fast.”

Steven said he had been napping when he woke up to find tubes connected to his oxygen tank, which help him breathe, on fire. After getting to the doorway, oxygen tanks began to explode, he said.

“[Explosions sounded] like a bomb that we used in Vietnam,” Steven told the station.

McBride said the home was fully engulfed when he ran from a neighboring mobile home to find Steven just outside, struggling to breathe.

“If I wouldn’t have sprung into action he would have literally burnt on his deck,” McBride said.